Guide
In recent years, China's TV drama market has further returned to rationality, THE CREATION OF TV DRAMAs has further prospered, the types have become more abundant, and great progress has been made in terms of ideological connotation, artistic standards, and production levels, and its influence has been further enhanced. More and more first-line production institutions have participated in the creation of realistic themes, and a large number of excellent plays have emerged, and improving quality has become the consensus of the industry. Grasping the laws and experience of the creation and production of reality-themed TV dramas as a whole can provide theoretical support for supporting industry innovation and serving the better and more healthy development of the industry.
On the whole, it is the glorious tradition of Chinese television to be rooted in reality, pay attention to reality, and reflect reality. At present, the creation of reality-themed TV dramas, on the basis of inheriting the realist creation methods and fine traditions, has greatly improved in terms of ideological content and artistic presentation. Looking back at the internal laws, logic and development trends of the creation and production of reality-themed TV dramas in recent years, Chinese TV dramas have always adhered to the deep planting of Chinese cultural soil, close to the people's lives, and combined with the people's aesthetics, forming the unique aesthetic characteristics and style of Chinese reality TV dramas.
First, focusing on the changes of the times constitutes a distinctive feature of the creation of Chinese reality-themed TV series
Literature and art should reflect the times and the era of acura. General Secretary Xi Jinping made a profound exposition on the relationship between literature and art and the times, emphasizing that "literature and art are the clarion call of the times, the most representative of the style of an era, the most able to lead the atmosphere of an era", emphasizing that "reflecting the times is the mission of literary and art workers", requiring literature and art to adhere to the pace of the times, "profoundly reflect the great historical changes of our times, depict the spiritual map of our times, paint a portrait of the times, establish a biography for the times, and be wise for the times".
After years of policy guidance and promotion, more and more front-line production institutions have participated in the creation of realistic themes, and it has become the consensus of the industry to focus on the creation of realistic TV series. At the same time, with the continuous improvement of the aesthetic needs of the majority of audiences, the quality and details of TV dramas have become an important factor affecting word of mouth. It can be said that from the great practice of reform and opening up in the past 40 years to the vigorous development of the new era, the economic, social and cultural picture of China's socialist modernization construction has been comprehensively displayed in the TV series. Especially since the Eighteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, domestic television dramas have paid attention to proceeding from the logic of life, using civilian perspectives and true stories to tell the changes of the times, deeply reflect social life, vividly portray the masses of the people, firmly express core values, do not avoid profound social contradictions and problems that arise in the process of historical development, have a positive and negative attitude toward social phenomena, have echoes and imaginations about the expectations of the people's lives, and adhere to the fine tradition of Chinese television dramas to closely follow the pulse of the times, grasp the spirit of the times, and express the style of the times. From "Old Peasant" to "Loess High Heaven" to a series of poverty alleviation themes in recent years, around the context of rural reform and development, domestic TV dramas systematically describe and panorama the changes of the times in China's rural reform and opening up; from "Chicken Feathers Fly to the Sky" to "Great Rivers and Rivers" series, the rich and vivid social life has been integrated into the great course of socialist construction in the past 40 years of reform and opening up. Some dramas show the magnificent entrepreneurial stories of the mobile Internet era; some dramas focus on the development of national enterprises and the inheritance of national crafts; some dramas face major contemporary social topics; and some dramas express reflections and expectations on modern social life. These works are deeply rooted in the variety of real life, deeply integrated with the characteristics of the times, whether it is scenes or costumes, makeup, props, including small actions designed for characters, etc., they all strive to be close to the era, close to the mental state of people at that time, from the social, life, emotional and documentary levels to provide a more detailed and more real literary and artistic experience than the historical record itself. From the perspective of actual results, these works have also won the recognition and praise of the audience, which provides useful reference for the industry to establish a correct creative attitude and find the correct creative direction, responds to the concerns of all sectors of society for the TV drama industry, and makes the TV drama industry move in a more healthy and orderly direction.
Second, lyrical writing about the people is the eternal theme of Chinese reality TV dramas
Literature and art should take root in the people and serve the people. The people's nature of literature and art is the basic viewpoint of Marxist literary and artistic theory. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "socialist literature and art, in essence, is the people's literature and art" "There are a hundred or a thousand methods of literary and artistic creation, but the most fundamental method is to take root in the people" "The needs of the people are the fundamental value of the existence of literature and art, and the people should be regarded as connoisseurs and judges of literary and artistic aesthetics", emphasizing that "the artistic life of all outstanding literary and artistic workers originates from the people, and all excellent literary and artistic creations are for the people" "Thinking that the people do not understand literature and art, thinking that the masses are' The people of Xia Riba', thinking that the creation of works for the masses is not of a high grade, these concepts are all incorrect", requiring adherence to the people-centered creative orientation, so as to "go into the depths of practice, observe the people's lives, express the people's voice, and use their hearts and efforts to express the people, depict the people, and sing the people." These important expositions have profoundly revealed the essential connection between socialist literature and art and the people, and the sincere people's feelings of the Chinese Communists are reflected between the lines.
In the course of more than 60 years of TV drama development, we have formed a recognized glorious tradition and valuable experience, that is, people-centered and realistic themes as the main body. For a long time, domestic TV dramas have never lacked the joys and sorrows of ordinary people in the pursuit of a better life. Some dramas start from the growth and experience of individuals, highlighting the attention to the survival needs and living conditions of ordinary people, both the details of daily life and the realistic care of ordinary life, through the combination of macro vision and micro life, reflecting the solidarity between personal struggle and the progress of the times and the development of the country. Some dramas portray entrepreneurs and workers in the era of rapid development and change in the way of group portraits as distinct personalities, true and credible, depict people's courage and perseverance to pursue and create a better life, reflect the changes of the times with typical characters, highlight the spirit of the times, and inspire people to move up. These works make the people the intersection of grand propositions and landing creations, show the people's joys and sorrows, focus on the people's bitterness, invest a lot of time and energy in the creation of research, interviews, become the role itself through real experience in the performance, deeply refine life, vividly express life, and show life in a panoramic way, so that the audience can feel the valuable spiritual value in the ordinary character image, discover the true meaning of life in the ordinary daily state, and create a number of flesh-and-blood, sentient and righteous screen images. Become the spiritual coordinates of an era.
Third, the outstanding value of leadership is an important experience for the enduring reality TV dramas in China
Literature and art should vigorously carry forward the core socialist values. The core values of socialism embody the essential requirements of socialism, reflect the common value pursuit of the people of all ethnic groups, are the concentrated embodiment of the contemporary Chinese spirit, and are the ideological and moral foundation for condensing China's strength. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly made important expositions on the cultivation of literature and art and the promotion of socialist core values, emphasizing that "literature and art are the project of forging the soul, and the Chinese spirit is the soul of socialist literature and art." It is necessary to give play to the leading role of the socialist core values in the creation, production, and dissemination of spiritual and cultural products, and regard the pursuit of truthfulness, benevolence, and beauty as the eternal value of literature and art," pointing out that "literature and art have a unique role in cultivating and carrying forward the core socialist values" "The vast number of literary and art workers should regard the cultivation and promotion of the core socialist values as a fundamental task, and unswervingly use Chinese unique ideas, emotions, and aesthetics to create outstanding works that belong to this era and have a distinct Chinese style."
For a long time, domestic TV dramas have insisted on integrating core values into stories in a silent way, and building an emotional bridge between works and audiences. Some dramas through strong dramatic plots, let the audience accompany the protagonist in the play to constantly face various life challenges, together with the realization of the spirit of emancipating the mind, forge ahead, overcome difficulties; some dramas focus on showing the characters to break free from the difficult situation, to show the audience the Chinese nation in the difficulty of the chinese nation in the indomitable, courageous spirit of the times; some dramas focus on fairness and justice, through the contest between good and evil, evil does not suppress the spirit of justice; some dramas through the depiction of ordinary families, Show family members under the same roof of mutual support, harmonious coexistence, suffering and sharing, through the real payment of emotions and trust, the truth, goodness and beauty in human nature are vividly expressed; some dramas through the sampling and analysis of the younger generation of different classes, build a rich and diverse growth cases, show their life experience, highlight the spiritual outlook and life realm of young people in the new era. These works vividly embody the core values of socialism in literary and artistic creation, and use vivid works to tell people what should be affirmed and praised, what must be opposed and denied, and guide people to enhance moral judgment and moral honor. At the same time, in the shaping of the character, we always maintain a sober and independent personality and healthy and upward values, and give clear answers and directions to the problems and choices commonly encountered in the current life, through the actual actions of the people in the play, and promote the realization of new life values in the new era outside the play.
Fourth, the pursuit of artistic innovation casts a unique aesthetic of Chinese reality TV series
Literature and art should create fine products and forge souls. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the creation of fine products, emphasizing that it is necessary to take the creation and production of excellent works as the central link of literary and artistic work, so as to "adhere to the dedication of the people with fine products", pointing out that "the reason why fine products are 'refined' lies in their profound thinking, exquisite art and excellent production", emphasizing that "the highest realm of art is to make people move their hearts and let people's souls undergo baptism".
With the increasingly broader aesthetic vision of the audience, the narrative of the TV series has also been continuously innovated, gradually jumping out of the single and traditional mode in the story structure and connotation mining, and releasing to a more complex and diversified concept. Some dramas break through "one's own sorrows and joys" and "cups of water storms", directly attack the contradictions of social reality, and present the realistic problems such as adhering to values, safeguarding justice and bearing costs in front of the audience; some dramas combine panoramic observation with microscopic analysis, observe reality with a profound gaze, and show the depth of field of social life; some dramas are exquisitely conceived, placing different typical characters in different economic and social forms, and unfolding the picture of the times through multiple levels; some dramas transform the conflict of social concepts into the conflict of characters. In the form of performance, we strive to be authentic and simple. In addition, in terms of form of expression, short dramas, unit dramas, and times report dramas are also constantly exploring and trying to bring more freshness to the audience. Realistic theme TV series further broaden the choice of themes to avoid the fatigue that repeatedly appears on the same theme; further innovate in plot settings to avoid imitation and plagiarism and "uniformity"; more personality in character shaping, avoiding the face and formatting of typical characters. These innovations not only enhance the appeal of domestic TV dramas, but also give them an advantage in multicultural competition.
Qi Xue, Development Research Center of the State Administration of Radio and Television, excerpted from the social science project of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television entitled "Research on the Creation and Guidance of Realistic TV Dramas in the New Era"
Source: National Radio and Television Think Tank